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89 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 3, 2004 Workers express hope and concern By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Rank and file employees of Bear Creek Corp. expressed hopes and worries about the sale of Jackson County’s largest company . "I think it’s great," said Medford resident Rod Summey. "I think it will be good for the company." An employee in the shipping department, 46-year-old Summey said the corporation that has purchased Bear Creek appears to have a strong interest in gourmet foods and consumer products companies. He said rumors that the company was up for sale began circulating last November. Summey had already looked up information on the Internet about the new owners, Wasserstein and Co., L.P. Advertisement Most of his co-workers aren’t particularly concerned about the sale, he said. "Overall, it is a great change," he said. But Jacksonville resident Jaime Villalobos said the change doesn’t come without some trepidation for workers. "It does kind of worry me," he said. "I don’t know what kind of changes they’re going to make." Villalobos, 21, said he is a temporary worker in the specialty foods section of the company. Other workers either declined to comment or asked that their names not be used. A woman employee said she wouldn’t comment or give her name — "Not if I want to keep my job," she said. However, she did say she didn’t think the change would affect her, and also thought Wasserstein was a good company that would invest in Bear Creek. Another worker said, "It’s probably not going to affect my job." One employee said his job was unlikely to change, but he speculated that jobs in upper management were likely in jeopardy. Bill Ihle, spokesman for Bear Creek, declined to comment on any aspect of the sale, including whether there would be changes in upper management. "I can’t say anything," he said. "We’ve been asked not to make any comments." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times